zurich international life

just the other day, one of my advisors queried me on the tpd coverage offered by our life insurers in singapore.

advisor: pat, is there any insurer that offers tpd coverage but does not come with the
standard definitions?
myself : what do u mean when u say the standard definitions for tpd?
advisor: well, you know, the usual definitions?
myself : do u mean the following definitions*?

*DEFINITIONS

2.1 “Total and Permanent Disability” means disability which is total and permanent
and persists continuously for at least six (6) months, with the Life Assured or Life
Assured who is first (in the event of there being more than one (1) Life Assured)
incapable of performing any work or engaging in any occupation or profession to
earn or obtain wages, compensation or profit, from the time when the disability
started.

2.2 Total and irrecoverable:

(a) loss of the sight of both eyes; or
(b) loss of sight of one (1) eye and loss by severance or loss of use of one
(1) limb at or above the ankle or wrist; or
(c) loss by severance or loss of use of:
(i) both hands at or above the wrists; or
(ii) both feet at or above the ankles; or
(iii) one (1) hand at or above the wrist and one (1) foot at or above
the ankle will also be considered "Total and Permanent Disability".

*extracted from aviva supplementary benefit for Total & Permanent Disability Benefit policy document.

advisor: yes, this should be the usual tpd definition. is there any insurer with a different tpd definition?
myself : well, aviva my protector - level and decreasing term as well as the newly launched aviva lifetime flexi offers an additional tpd definition by which if the life insured is unable to perform 3 out of 6 ADLs shall be considered to have "Total & Permanent Disability".*

the 6 ADLs are:

(a) Transferring – the ability to move from a bed to an upright chair or wheelchair and
vice versa;
(b) Mobility – the ability to move indoors from room to room on level surfaces;
(c) Toileting – the ability to use the lavatory or otherwise manage bowel and bladder
functions so as to maintain a satisfactory level of personal hygiene;
(d) Dressing – the ability to put on, take off, secure and unfasten all garments and, as
appropriate, any braces, artificial limbs or other surgical appliances;
(e) Washing – the ability to wash in the bath or shower (including getting into and out
of the bath or shower) or wash satisfactorily by other means;
(f) Feeding – the ability to feed oneself once food has been prepared and made
available.

but there is one other insurer with a unique defintion of total and permanent disability with 2 different definitions. the first definition is for those under age 65 years:

Confirmation by a Medical Practitioner appointed or approved by the Company's Chief Medical Officer, of the permanent inability, through illness or accident, to perform at least two of the following activities of daily working. The inability to perform an activity shall only be valid if the help of another person is needed to perfrom the function even when using appropriate assistive aids and appliances.

The activities of daily working are:

• Walking – the ability to walk more than 200 metres on the flat without stopping or severe discomfort.
• Bending – the ability to get into or out of a standard saloon car, or the ability to bend or kneel to pick up a tea cup from the floor and straighten up again.
• Communications – the ability to answer the telephone and take a message.
• Reading – having the eyesight required to be able to read a daily newspaper.
• Writing – having the physical ability to write legibly using a pen or pencil.

and the other definition applies to those age 65 years or over:

Confirmation by a Medical Practitioner appointed or approved by the Company's Chief Medical Officer, of the permanent inability, through illness or accident, to perform at least four of the following activities of daily living. The inability to perform an activity shall only be valid if the help of another person is needed to perform the function even when using appropriate assistive aids and appliances.

The activities of daily living are:

(i) Feeding/Eating: Cutting meat, buttering bread, getting food and drink to the mouth using fingers or utensils.
(ii) Dressing: Dressing oneself including fastening zips and buttons, getting clothes from wardrobes and drawers.
(iii) Bathing/Grooming: Turning on taps, getting in and out of bath/shower, washing face/hands, etc. drying oneself, combing hair.
(iv) Toileting: Moving into and out of the bathroom, getting on and off the toilet unaided, recognising the need or uge to void bladder or bowel in time to get to the toilet.
(v) Mobility/Transfer: Getting into and out of bed, transferring from one place to another, e.g. chair or bed, chair to standing, chair to chair.
(vi) Walking/Using a wheelchair: Moving from one location to another - walking or using an umpowered wheelchair propelled by the Relevant Life Insured or using frame.